Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair vs Diamond Aircraft Da62 vs Piper M350 vs Piper Seneca
The Cessna Skyhawk is a single‑engine piston trainer and personal traveler with typically 3–4 passengers plus the pilot and a range around 600–800 nautical miles depending on model, payload, and reserves. The Cessna Turbo Stationair is a larger, more utility‑oriented single‑engine turbocharged piston aircraft, often configured for 5–6 passengers plus the pilot, with useful load for bags and a similar or somewhat longer practical range, roughly 700–900 nautical miles. The Diamond DA62 is a modern twin‑engine piston aircraft aimed at efficient cross‑country and light business use, commonly seating 5–7, with a range often around 1,000–1,200 nautical miles. The Piper M350 is a high‑performance, pressurized single‑engine piston aircraft positioned for faster, higher‑altitude personal and business travel, typically carrying 5–6 plus the pilot, with range commonly about 1,000–1,300 nautical miles. The Piper Seneca is a conventional light twin piston, usually 5–6 plus the pilot, with range roughly 800–1,000 nautical miles, emphasizing multi‑engine redundancy and training/transport flexibility.
| Spec | Cessna Skyhawk | Cessna Turbo Stationair | Diamond Aircraft DA62 | Piper M350 | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| DOC / nm | $ 0.95 | $ 1.08 | $ 1.18 | $ 1.34 | $ 1.69 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Cessna | Diamond Aircraft | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 172 Skyhawk | 206 Turbo Stationair | DA62 | M350 | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 640 | 703 | 1283 | 1343 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.24 | $ 0.18 | $ 0.24 | $ 0.22 | $ 0.28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 118 | $ 174 | $ 225 | $ 285 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 124 | 161 | 190 | 213 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $415,000 | $745,000 | $1,290,000 | $1,195,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 5 | — | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | — | 1565 | 1308 | 1331 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | — | 5 | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | — | 5.6 | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Model | IO-360-L2A | TIO-540-AJ1A | AE330 | TIO-540-AE2A | TSIO-360-RB |
| Fuel Type | AvGas | AvGas | Diesel / Jet Fuel | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 2000 | 1800 | 2000 | 1800 |
| TBO (yrs) | 12 | 12 | — | 12 | — |
| Horsepower | 200 | 350 | 180 | 350 | 220 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 42 | 87 | 89 | 120 | 122 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | 86 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 27.2 | 28.3 | 30.1 | 29 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | 47.8 | 43 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 3.4 | 3.6 | — | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | 4.2 | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 11.9 | 12.1 | — | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 11.4 | 10 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 30 | 11 | — | 20 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 165 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 13 | — |